Latinx Comix Panel featuring Angela M. Sánchez, Pablo Leon, and Diego Salazar Castro Moderated by Jen Hurler
A purchase of the book from Vroman's is greatly appreciated and makes events like this possible.
Comic art has long been used as an avenue to address social issues and has given voice to the marginalized groups through their stories and the artists who create them. As Hispanic Heritage Month begins in a tumultuous time with vulnerable Latinx communities being targeted by current US policies, this panel features comic creators whose work focuses on social commentary and bringing visibility to human rights issues and perspectives across the Latinx/e/a/o spectrum.
Featured books include From Cocinas to Lucha Libre Ringsides: A Latinx Comics Anthology and Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide
Bios:
Angela M. Sánchez (she/they)
Angela is a Mexican American writer from Los Angeles. Angela was recently a staff writer for Disney Television Animation’s latest 6-11 series PRIMOS. Their freelance writing includes shows such as Spin Master’s PAW PATROL and its spin-off RUBBLE & CREW, Nickelodeon’s latest DORA & FRIENDS and KID COWBOY, PBS’ upcoming PHOEBE & JAY, AppleTV+’s Peabody Award-winning series STILLWATER, among others. Angela’s writing has also appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books, SOLRAD, LAist, and the anthologies AS WE CONVENE by Inked in Gray Press and SOMOS XICANAS by Riot of Roses Publishing. Angela wrote and illustrated their own picture book series SCRUFFY & THE EGG, which addresses topics of family homelessness, and have co-edited the newly released comics anthology, FROM COCINAS TO LUCHA LIBRE RINGSIDES, and is currently working on a short film under the Latino Film Institute's Spark Animated Short Grant, sponsored by Netflix.
Pablo Leon (he/him)
Pablo Leon is an author and artist from Guatemala, currently living in Los Angeles, California, and jumping between TV animation and comics. He's an Eisner Award Nominee for his original comic The Journey, an account of an unaccompanied child coming from Central America to the U.S., and he was the illustrator for the exciting middle grade graphic novel series Miles Morales at Scholastic. He’s worked with Disney, Warner Bros, and Nickelodeon. His passion for capturing historical memory in his art and stories has led him to his writer/artist debut Silenced Voices at Harper Alley, and his first animated short film Remember Us, which qualified for consideration for Best Animated Short Film for the Academy Awards. When he’s not working, he enjoys cooking alongside his helper cats, Agave, Moth and Midna.
Diego Salazar Castro (he/him)
Diego is a Venezuelan-born writer of genre-bending graphic novels, film, and television—often filled with blood, dark comedy, spectacle, and a splash of social commentary. He was recently a staff writer on the Annie-nominated PRIMOS animated series at Disney and received a WarnerMedia OneFifty grant to develop his original concept THE EXTRA-ORDINARIES into a script, animated pilot, and comic book. He’s also developed an original feature with Monkeypaw. His work centers immigrant characters, experiences, and triumph. He enjoys surfing, drawing butts, and occasionally gets paid to travel the world watching soccer with FIFA.
Jen Hurler (she/her) MODERATOR
Jen is a Dominican-American writer and creator with over a decade of experience in and around the animation industry. She's worked at Warner Brothers Animation and Blue Sky Studios, has taught story structure at the university level, and has written for the prominent animation news site Cartoon Brew. Creative development and visual storytelling are both her profession and genuine passion.
